You're probably asking, "How many newborn diapers do I need for my child?" Honestly, it depends. It might tempt you to stock up on diapers before your baby is born, but that may not be the best idea.
When you take a look at how long a baby stays in newborn diapers, there are a lot of factors to look at. Some will fit into size one diapers as soon as they're born, and others may need to be in newborn diapers for over a month. So, how can you plan for this?
So, you're asking, "How many newborn diapers do I need?" On average, newborn diapers will fit babies weighing up to 10 pounds. However, some brands of diapers have newborn sizes that fit babies up to 12 pounds.
When you're taking this into account, it's crucial to remember that every baby is different. Some are born weighing 6 pounds, and others are 10 pounds. The average weight of a baby at birth, though, is just below 8 pounds. This is the case with both boys and girls.
So, most babies will stay in newborn diapers until they weigh about 10 pounds. How long will your baby remain in newborn diapers? It largely depends on how much they weigh when they are born and how fast they grow.
But, understanding the averages can help you get a rough idea of how many newborn diapers that you will need. For example, the average baby will reach 10 pounds once they are 1.5 months old. By this time, they will most likely be ready to move to a size one diaper, depending on what brand you use.
On the one hand, if your baby is in the 3rd percentile for weight, they will probably not reach the 10-pound mark until they are about 3 months old. Premature babies are born at a lower weight, and non-premature babies can be born at a lower than average weight, too.
The March of Dimes says that 1 in 12 babies are born weighing less than 5 pounds 8 ounces.
If this is the case, then your baby may stay in newborn diapers for longer than average.
On the other hand, you might ask, "How many newborn diapers do I need for a larger baby?" Well, babies born at a higher weight may never even wear a newborn diaper.
Babies who are born in the 95th and 97th percentiles are born weighing around 10 pounds, which is the weight that babies typically move on from newborn diapers.
Only 3 to 5 percent of babies are born at that weight, but if you suspect that your baby will be on the larger size, don't waste your money stocking up on too many newborn diaper sizes.
On average, a newborn baby goes through 10 to 12 diapers in a day. With this in mind, your newborn baby may go through over 1,000 diapers during the newborn stage, or throughout their first 3 months.
Yes, that is a lot of diapers! However, keep in mind that babies go through the most diapers during the newborn stage. This won't last forever. As a baby gets older, they will go down to five to eight diapers per day.
A baby may go through about 2,200 diapers throughout their first year of life. If you're looking to start a stockpile, a baby shower is an excellent place to start.
If you are planning to stockpile diapers before your new baby arrives, here are some tips that you can follow.
As we mentioned above, your baby shower is an excellent place to start stocking up on diapers. Diapers are an expense that you'll be looking to save money on, and your friends and family will love to give you a gift that they know you'll use.
Plus, you can have a diaper party for the dad-to-be -- in addition to a baby shower! Instead of bringing gifts from a registry, all of the guests will bring wipes and diapers. You will be able to get a stock started without dropping a ton of money, and you'll get a wide range of sizes.
A great incentive to get people to bring diapers to a diaper party or baby shower is to hold a diaper raffle. For every pack of diapers that someone brings, they will get a ticket toward the raffle.
Something to remember when you are stockpiling diapers is to take a look at the package sizes. Some brands will have more diapers per pack than other ones will.
Unless you're dead-set on a specific brand of diapers, choose the one that gives you the most diapers in a package.
Finally, when you're choosing where to buy diapers from, shop around at various retailers around you. If you prefer to shop in-store, go to a few to see who tends to run the best sales on diapers.
If you are buying online, visit numerous websites. Also, make sure you check if the retailer has a rewards program to save you additional money.
This may go without saying, but as soon as your baby has a wet or soiled diaper, it needs to be changed. Your baby could get rashes and infections from bacteria on a dirty diaper.
You should check your baby's diaper periodically while they are awake to check if it needs changing.
A general tip to follow is to change a diaper both before and after they eat, as well as before and after they sleep. Babies will often pee or poop after they eat and sleep.
On average, a newborn baby soils their diaper every one to three hours, as well as each time they are fed. A cloth diaper should always be changed immediately, but a disposable diaper does not necessarily need to be changed until it is heavy.
Additionally, there are some signs to look for where you will know your baby needs a diaper change:
First, decide whether or not cloth diapers are worth it for you. Most parents who use cloth diapers still keep newborn diapers on hand for the first few months, only because newborn babies go through so many diapers per day.
Even if you plan on putting your cloth diapers in the laundry every day, you will need to purchase a lot for a newborn baby -- at least 20! Your baby won't fit into the newborn sizes for very long. So, it may be worth it to use disposable diapers until they move up in size.
Regardless, cloth diapers are going to save you money in the long run. However, you will have to do laundry far more often with cloth diapers. It all depends on if you'd rather save money or time on laundry!
However, now that you know a little bit more about the average weights and number of diapers that babies go through, hopefully you feel a bit more prepared! You will get an idea of the right answer to, "How many newborn diapers do I need?" once your baby is born.
This can also tell you whether or not they are getting enough to eat, and if they are well-hydrated.
You may want to re-consider stocking up on a lot of newborn diapers before your baby is born, just in case your he or she grows out of that size quickly. If you have too many, be sure to look into donating your extra ones to a local family shelter or diaper bank.
Now that your question of, "How many newborn diapers do I need?" has been answered, what are you most looking forward to for when your new baby is born? Let us know in a comment!
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